Wise Rubs Salt in Pepperdine Wound

They were wise guys, to be sure, these dozen or so hecklers seated in the first three rows of the bleachers.

But they were Wise’s guys as far as Cal State Fullerton’s Matt Wise was concerned. Wise, a transfer from Pepperdine making his first appearance for the Titans, was the winning pitcher in visiting Fullerton’s 5-4 nonconference victory Wednesday.

“In my mind, they were cheering for me,” Wise said.

In reality, the hecklers--mostly Pepperdine students--alternated cheering and jeering Wise, who was 6-2 for the Waves last season.

The 6-foot-5 right-hander entered the game in the fifth inning with Fullerton leading, 4-2, and allowed two unearned runs on a throwing error by catcher Mike Lamb before turning the ball over to Mark Chavez, who retired nine in a row to earn his first save.

A home run in the seventh by Mark Kotsay, NCAA player of the year last season, gave Fullerton the winning run.

“[Pitching Wise] wasn’t what we had planned,” said Augie Garrido, the Fullerton coach. “He would have started had we played anyone else.”

Wise decided to transfer last summer while playing in the Cape Cod League. Unlike in football and basketball, the NCAA allows baseball players to transfer from one Division I program to another without losing eligibility provided their former school grants a release.

More than 50 notable players transferred before this season and Fullerton, the defending national champion and current No. 1-ranked team, has benefited greatly. Six players left other Division I teams for the Titans during the off-season.

Pepperdine Coach Pat Harrison did not hesitate giving a release to his only returning right-handed starter when it was requested.

“I don’t want a boy here who doesn’t want to be here,” Harrison said. “If someone dissatisfied is on your bench, it becomes infectious. I would never hold somebody hostage.”

Wise’s entrance momentarily fired up the Waves (2-3), who have struggled with the bat, hitting only .250 this season. A bloop single by Dave Rosato and bunt single by Chris Cosbey put two runners on with one out.

Rosato stole third, but before the next pitch Wise put Cosbey in a rundown by faking to third and throwing to first. Rosato broke for the plate and shortstop Jack Jones threw to Lamb, whose throw to third base hit Rosato’s helmet and bounced away, allowing two runs to score.

Thirteen of the next 14 Waves were retired, however.

“We are playing too passively,” Harrison said. “We were fired up a bit, then once [Wise] left the game, we went back to being spectators.”